CPHS HISTORY

CPHS was founded in 1985 by a group of neighbors to promote interest in the history of Cleveland Park and to encourage preservation of its architectural heritage and character as a friendly residential neighborhood with a strong sense of community.

The Cleveland Park Historic District was designated in November 1986 after extensive research by CPHS and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in April 1987. The Architectural Review Committee was formed in 1987 and meets monthly to review building permit applications and make recommendations to the D.C. Historic Preservation Office.

In 1989, CPHS helped the city create a new zoning category, the Neighborhood Commercial Overlay District, which protects the historic low-rise character of the commercial buildings on Wisconsin and Connecticut Avenues in the area. The preservation and redevelopment of the small-scale “Park and Shop” complex at the Cleveland Park Metro station on Connecticut Avenue is a result of these efforts.

CPHS has fostered awareness of Cleveland Park’s history through talks, tours, and publications.

For more about the history of Cleveland Park, please watch “I am Cleveland Park: Preserving the Past, Shaping the Future” narrated by Jim Lehrer.